Improved mode of ventilating mines



NITED ySTNrns PATENT muon.

JOHN S. FISK, OF MEADVILLE, AND JAMES WESTERMAN, OF SHARON, PA.

IMPROVED iViODE OF VENTILATING MINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 15,9l8, dated January17, 1865.

.T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, J oHN S. FIsK, of Meadville, Crawford county,Pennsylvania, and JAMES WnsrnRMAN, of Sharon, Mercer county,Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machineryfor Ventilating Mines, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,whichmakes part ofthis specification, and which represents two reservoirs ofcompression, and their induction and eduction pipes, being all of themechanism necessary to illustrate our invention.

In the modes hitherto adopted for ventilatin g mines by machinery or forthe employment of compressed air as a motor for operating mechanismwithin them, it has been usual to pump the air from the mouth of themine through pipes of uniform diameter and discharge it at the pointdesired within the mine. This method is attended with two very seriousdifficulties-namely, the want of a proper reservoir in connection withthe pumping apparatus leaves the mine unventilated in the event of anyaccident to the pumps or their connections; and, secondly, the frictionof the air on long pipes of uniform diameter in deep mines renders itdifficult to deliver the quantity of air required under an effectivepressure either for ventilating or motive purposes, and even when doneit is only by the use of powerful and expensive machinery, and the airis discharged in irregular puffs instead of in a steady stream.

It is the object of our invention to obviate the above-mentioned andother objections to this plan of Ventilating mines by currents of airforced through pipes and of using the same currents as motors formachinery; to which end the improvement herein claimed consists, iirst,in combining one or more reservoirs for compressed air, located withinthe mine, with a force-pump or engine located at or near the mouth ofthe mine, substantially in the manner hereinafter described, so as toexert a uniform pressure at the working-point where compressed air .isused as a motor, and to pre-v vent the stoppage of the ventilation incase of a temporary stoppage of the engine 5 secondly, in the employmentof one or more reservoirs for compressed air, located within the mine,

into which air is pumped through large tubes or pipes, and from which itis withdrawn through smaller eduction-pipes for use either forventilation, as a motor, or for both.

The accompanying drawing, which eXemplilies one mode of carrying out theobjects of our invention, shows so much only of the mechanism as isnecessary to illustrate our invention.

An engine for pumping and lifting is essential to all mines of anyextent, and is generally located near the mouth of the pit or shaft.This en gine is generally idle at intervals during a large portion ofthe day. Under our system this idle time may be usefully employed incompressing air into the reservoirs, and thus dispense with thenecessity of employing an extra engine for that special duty.

The air is forced through an induction-pipe, A, into a reservoir, B,where it is compressed to any desired degree. The reservoir is providedwith stop-valves O D (in` this instance located in the pipes) of anyproperkind, and may likewise be provided with a safety-valve, (as at13,) to prevent rupturing the reservoir by an excess of pressure. Thisreservoir may be located at any point most convenient within the mine,and at any desired distance from the engine. XVe prefer, however, tolocate it as near the working-point as convenient. From the reservoirand eduction-pipe, Gr, conducts the air to any desired point, either forventilating or for actuating mechanism. Ve pren fer to use a largeinduction-pipe to diminish friction, and a small eduction'pipe forconvenienee, which pipe, for greater convenience, may also be madeflexible, if desired.

As the mine is extended, it may be expedient to introduce additionalchambers of compression or reservoirs F, which may in all respects beconstructed like reservoir B. The advantages ot' this duplication are,that the pressure of the escaping current is equalized, and the pumpingcan be discontinued fora longer period without stoppin g either themining machinery or the ventilation. To the same end a reservoir may beplaced near the pumping-engine outside the mine, but a reservoir thuslocated would not alone accomplish the objects of our invention.

By our improved system of ventilating and working mines we are enabledto dispense with nearly half the dead-Work7 heretofore required, for wecan thoroughly ventilate a mine through a single shaft, while in themajority of mines it is necessary to open an additional shaft solely forventilation.

We are likewise enabled by our invention to use machinery for miningWithout danger from explosion from the use of fire in the mine and theinconvenience and discomfort of smoke or dampness created by thecondensation of the escaping steam.

It is obvious that the materials, the form, and the dimensions of thereservoir may be varied to suit the circumstances of the case, and thatthe air may be applied as a motor in various Well-known Ways Withoutdeparting from the spirit of our invention.

What We claim as our invention,'and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination7 with a forcing-pump or engine located at or near themouth of the mine7 of one or more reservoirs for compressed air, locatedWithin the mine at a distance from the engine and near the Workingpoint,substantially in the manner herein described, for the purposes'ot"Ventilating the mine, and of exerting a uniform pressure as a motor, asset forth.

2. The combination of one or more reser-Y voirs, arranged substantiallyas herein described, With a large induction and small eduction pipe andstop-valves, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto subscribed our names.

JOHN S. FISK. JAMES WESTERMAN.

Witnesses W M. D. BALDWIN, EDM. F. BROWN.

